Assaults in Pine Hills/Washington Park
Albany police say two women were sexually assaulted early Sunday morning in the Pine Hills/Washington Park area -- one near Hamilton and Quail, the other in the park. The APD says it doesn't know if it's the same attacker in both cases, but the descriptions are similar. Press release post jump.
Albany police are currently investigating two sexual assaults that occurred this past Sunday morning.
Police were called to the apartment of the first victim who lives in the Pine Hills neighborhood. The victim, 21, told officers she was walking with two friends on Hamilton Street at 2:15 a.m. Sunday morning when a man emerged from behind a fence on the north side of Hamilton Street just east of Quail Street. He approached the victim and reached up under her skirt and forcibly touched her before running off.
The suspect is described as a black male approximately 5'7" with a small build. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. He was last seen running west on Hamilton Street towards Ontario Street.
Officers responded to Memorial Hospital early Sunday morning after the second assault victim went to the hospital after being attacked in Washington Park. The victim, 25, told officers she was walking home with a friend at approximately 3:30 a.m. The pair split up and the victim continued walking home through the park alone. The suspect approached the victim from behind and pushed her to the ground. He put something to the back of her head and threatened to shoot her if she made any noise. He proceeded to assault the victim. He threatened to kill victim if she moved as he fled the scene.
The suspect, a black male, 5'7" with a medium build was wearing black baggy sweatpants, hooded sweatshirt and black knitted winter hat. He was last seen heading westbound through the park towards New Scotland Avenue.
It is unknown at this time if the incidents are related or not.
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Comments
Makes me feel like grabbing my pepper spray and taking a late night walk.
... said Junkpunch on Feb 21, 2012 at 4:45 PM | link
This is not an excuse for the criminal.
Folks should not go out alone after dark,and especially through the park!
... said mg on Feb 21, 2012 at 5:07 PM | link
Not going out alone after dark is a nice idea, but I've never understood the logistics of it. Most people aren't able to travel to and from work or social events with people who live in the same place. Even if you meet up to walk together, there is always some point where someone is alone. I don't think it makes sense that we should all be stuck inside after sunset. Where does that leave the potential for dinner out with friends, jobs that don't end by 3 PM in the winter, or a night out?
... said kk on Feb 21, 2012 at 5:34 PM | link
"The victim, 21, told officers she was walking with two friends..."
... said Kerosena on Feb 21, 2012 at 8:01 PM | link
Maybe it's time for the Albany PD to patrol more than sit outside Dunkins.
... said konge torben on Feb 21, 2012 at 10:08 PM | link
Ugh, this is the kind of thing that scares me about Pine Hills, even though we're only around during daylight hours.
... said Britin @ All Good on Feb 21, 2012 at 10:44 PM | link
Hey - Does anyone know where self defense classes are offered in the capital region?
... said Heather on Feb 21, 2012 at 10:44 PM | link
Folks should not go out alone after dark,and especially through the park!
No. Folks should not walk through the park by themselves at 3am.
Still no excuse for the criminal. It would be nice to live in a society where you could safely walk through the park at 3am. We don't. So don't do it.
I don't do it often (hell, when was the last time I was even out that late? I'm an old lady!), but I've walked home from one side of the park to the other by myself, but I don't cut through the park. I take the long way around Lark St. It's well-lit, there are people milling about. It's safer.
In the meantime, however, I agree - the police know the park is dangerous after midnight, yet they do nothing about it. Why is that?
... said irisira on Feb 22, 2012 at 6:05 AM | link
It wasn't all that long ago that a man was murdered by a stranger while walking through the park in the wee hours.
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Parolee-s-arrest-sickens-family-559837.php
... said LB on Feb 22, 2012 at 9:10 AM | link